Sampaguita - 1978 - Sampaguita

The queen of filipino rock: Tessy Alfonso alias Sampaguita! Born in Java, Indonesia, she moved to Philippines when she was only six. Sampaguita started out as a model under then-First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos’ Bagong Anyo. She was discovered by her then-husband Nilo Santos. Her stage name was coined by the percussionist Nick Boogie, after the species of jasmine locally known as sampaguita, which is also the national flower. Her first performance was at the New Moon Concert in 1977 at the Folk Arts Theater in Pasay, Metro Manila. The magnetic personality and inimitable talent of the prodigious youth, amazed Maverick producer Nilo N. Santos of Nilson Productions who thought it interesting to have her record an album. It took considerable time and tenacity to convince the reluctant young woman, but as fate would have it, Sampaguita, "the Rocker" was destined to bloom.

By this time the pioneering efforts of rock station DZRJ FM to rev up the local rock scene was climbing to an imminent realization. Sampaguita of course, led the fray, earning the critics` nod in her first ever performance -- an opening slot in a concert titled, "New Moon Rock Concert." This led to the eventual pairing with talented guitarist-songwriter Gary Perez of the rock band Anak Bayan. Their first hit, the celebratory "Bonggahan", became her signature piece. Soon the partnership bore more hits like "Tao", "Laguna", "Sayawan", "Sa Diyos Lamang"... all of which became anthems for their generation. All these pieces are included in the omonimous first album of 1978. The album is a mix of Glam, Psychedlic Rock and Pinoy Rock.

Her colorful attire, which blended psychedelic aesthetics with "rock and roll" theatrics, brought glamour to the Pinoy rockers scene. In fact, it remains one of the more vivid images of 70`s Pinoy pop culture. As her fame grew, the demand to see her perform was amplified. She was the choice opener for international artists who came to visit the country. These include, to name a few, Chuck Berry, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Paul Williams, Eric Clapton and Canned Heat. Her arduous three-year stint at the legendary 100% rock club in Subic Naval Base, Olongapo, performing for American service men, further fortified her rock queen persona that, after three decades still remains.

After a self-imposed hibernation, Sampaguita came out strongly again in 1989 with an expected hit "Nosi Ba Lasi." Once she was was asked why there was such a long gap between her albums, and Sam`s reply was simple; "To do an album just to remain in the scene is not my style. It is an art form and inspirations don`t come easy. For me a song without a message is just "sound", just like a flower with no scent." Currently she is quite content being a mother to her three beautiful children: Dolly, Cowboy, and Jacinta. She is also into pottery, painting and a lot of other hobbies and crafts. At the moment, her musical legacy is now carried on through her son Cowboy, a gutarist of interest who is wowing audiences on the currently Pinoy rock scene.

Sampaguita`s contribution to Filipino music industry`s lavish tapestry and Pinoy rock in particular is one to be cherished. She is an icon and a veritable pillar that the curent breed of musicians continues to look up to. And rightly so, for Pinoy will not be what we know and enjoy it to be, had Sampaguita not taken her birthright as the one and only "Queen of Pinoy Rock and Roll.

(source: pinoyclassicfolkrock.blogspot.com.)

TRACKLIST:

A1 - Bonggahan

Written-By – Gary Perez

A2 - Easy Pare

Written-By – Nilsan

A3 - Sampaguita Theme

Written-By – Gary Perez

A4 - Kinabukasan

Written By – R. Carillo,  Sampaguita

A5 - Rock N' Roll Medley

cover

B1 - Sayawan

Written-By – Gary Perez

B2 - Tao

Written-By – Gary Perez

B3 - Kumadre

Written-By – Gary Perez, Sampaguita

B4 - Sa Diyos Lamang

Written-By – Gary Perez

Afro Sunshine - 1989 - This Is Afrika

This was one of the first albums by a local group to go on sale in Botswana.  During the 80s, Batswana were only exposed to recorded music by South African artistes.  It was very difficult for local artistes to record due to lack of financial resources and recording facilities.  By then recording facilities were only available in countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe. Afro Sunshine used to be one of the country's top Afro pop groups in the 80s.  They released their popular album in 1989 before the group disbanded following some misunderstandings.  Although it was released 20 years ago, the album has always been in demand.  This is what motivated former Afro Sunshine keyboard player Lekofi Sejeso and group manager Dennis Alexander to reprint it in 2009.

The eight-track album included the tracks; Afro Sunshine, Mmaebeke, Ma Basket, Tote, Sisi Langeni and Re ba lebile. Ma Basket was the hit track of the album. The music it is a mix of Afro Funk, Mbaqanga, Soukos and  Sotho-Tswana Folk Music.  The hugely talented Sejeso composed almost all the songs on the album except Mmaebeke, which was done by Gino Maposa.  But unfortunately members of Afro Sunshine were never able to make much money from the album.

The Mogoditshane based group was formed in 1983 by Sejeso (keyboard), Ricky Molefe (guitar), Maposa (saxophone), Oupa Phofu (bass), and Ronnie Nkhululu (drums).  Mbewe, Kunda (former drummer from zamrock band Musi-o-Tunya) and Paledi later joined them. It was always a delight to see the group on the stage with Sejeso doing his thing on the keyboards.

Vocalist Jeff Malaba also joined the group at a later stage. Afro Sunshine used to stage shows at Mogoditshane venues like the Mogo Hotel and Bodiba Country Club.  They used to rehearse at the Lekadiba Club, which was owned by Queen Kwelagobe, the wife of the BDP strongman.

The band also used to conduct countrywide tours.  In 1990, they performed at the Francistown Stadium.

Afroshine and Kgwanyape, which was led by the late Duncan Senyatso, were the first civilian groups to release albums.  During the same time, Kgwanyape released their album, Mephato ya maloba.  It was the two groups, which put local music on the map. Recalling the days of Afro Sunshine, Sejeso said those were the good times.  He said although they had not formally learnt music but they were able to excel.  But he said things used to be difficult for them at times. He said revelers used to attend their shows in large numbers.   Those were the times when musicians performed live.

Lekofi is performing as a resident artiste at the Grand Palm.  But he would never forget about those good old days. 

In 2000, Lekofi recorded an album for the Botswana Football Association (BFA) to promote the Zebras.  Some of the favourite tunes from the album have been receiving massive airplay on radio when the Zebras are playing. 

TRACKLIST

A1 - Afro Sunshine

Written-By – Chris Mbewe

A2 - Mmaekbeke

Written-By – Lekofi Tebogo Sejeso

A3 - Ma Basket

Written-By – Lekofi Tebogo Sejeso

B1 - Tote

Written-By – Lekofi Tebogo Sejeso

B2 - Sise Langeni

Written-By – Jino Chivage Maposa

B3 - Rebalebile

Written-By – Lekofi Tebogo Sejeso

Published by: "M" Promotions Music

Studio: Universal Studios, Johannesburg

Credits: 

Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Jino Chivage Maposa

Bass Guitar – Levinstone Paledi

Drums – Ronald Mkhololi

Keyboards, Vocals – Lekofi Tebogo Sejeso

Lead Guitar, Vocals – Chris Mbewe

Guitar, Vocals – Ricky Molefe

Percussion, Vocals – Alex Kunda

Producer – Koloi Lebona

Engineer – Phil Nel*

Executive Producer – Leslie Mogapi

 Elias Dia Kimuezo - Elias (1974)

Singer and musician from Angola, Elias Diá Kimuezo was born at the Marçal neighborhood, Luanda, with the name of Elias José Francisco, on January 2nd, 1936. At the age of 7, he becomes an orphan, a fact that forces him later, at age 12 to go live at his grandmother's house, in the Sambizanga neighborhood, where he learns to communicate fluently, in his mother tongue, the Kimbundo. His constant attendance at the Kimúngua Samba, in the Bungo area of ​​Luanda, where several workers from the sea port and the railways who played and danced Kinganje lived, made him discover, at the age of 15, his artistic vocation, that leads him to integrate in the "Turma do Margoso", like main vocalist and player of bate-bate. Two years later, he moved to the "Os Kizombas" group, which at that time played in the Malanjinho Room in the Sambizanga neighborhood. Over time he has been improving himself in the art of singing, and becoming more and more known. In 1969, the Folkloric Festival of the Portuguese Provinces took place in Portugal, and the same was invited, with the Rebita group of Mestre Geraldo and the Marimbeiros de Duque de Bragança, from Malange, to represent the Province of Angola. His artistic performance, like that of the other artists, deserved high praise from critics and local cultural analysts, so he was given the proposal, accepted promptly, to record two "singles" for the publisher Valentim de Carvalho.

The following recordings were made: "Mualunga", "Resurreição", "Muenhu Ua Muto" and "Zum-Zum", which had the participation of José Adelino Barceló de Carvalho (aka Bonga), Rui Mingas, Teta Lando and the Marimbeiros do Duque de Bragança. The launch of the works, with much pomp and circumstance, took place at Cine-Restauração, one of the most chic cinemas in Luanda. The success grew day after day, and in this, Elias dya Kimuezu, is awarded with the title of "Best Performer of the Angolan Song". This award was given annually to the artists who stood out in the Province of Angola, by the CITA-Angola Information and Tourism Center. In 1972, in compensation, for his selfless work in favor of music, he received a statuette referring to "11 more of the city of Luanda", which awarded the eleven most outstanding figures in the various professional and social areas in the city of Luanda.

In 1974, as a result of the intense mobilization work, he was arrested with his younger brother "Chico Suiza" and sent immediately to "São Nicolau" - Campo I das Salinas, barrack III, where they left after clarifying the decolonization process and the system should be obliged to deal with the release of all prisoners, especially those in the political arena.

During the creation of the "Agrupamento Kissanguela", by Mário Rui Silva, it was Elias Diá Kimuezo, who suggested the name of the same, given the moment that was lived and the work that the group was intended to produce.

Since the mid-sixties, Elias Diá Kimuezo, for the quality of his work and the constancy of his performance, was considered "The King of Angolan Music". (https://www.discogs.com/it/artist/3004017-Elias-Di%C3%A1-Kimuezo)

Considered the "king of Angolan music" in the late 1960s (here an interesting article about it), Elias Diá Kimuezo was an important point of reference. His rhythm takes its cue from the semba (peculiar local fusion of angolan, portuguese and brazilian music), incorporating elements of folk kimbundu (tribe from north Angola), merengue and african rumba. In this album from 1974 the tribal component is strong, like the following song with the frenetic back and forth between voice and chorus.

TRACKLIST:

A1 - Watiaña - Instrumental

A2 - Uá Ué Muxima - Ai Meu Coração

A3 - Monami, Uá Muxima - Meu Filho Do Coração

A4 - Samba

A5 - Ressurreição

A6 - Ku Iéku - Não Vás

B1 - Entrudo

B2 - Nhajinga - Waya - Instrumental

B3 - Zom - Zom

B4 - Muénho Uá Mutu - Vida Humana

B5 - Zé Salambinga

B6 - Mama Kudile Ngó - Minha Mãe Não Chores

Credits:

Carlitos Vieira Dias: Arranged By, Music Director, Guitar

Manuel Claudino da Silva: Bass Guitar

Ana Paula Moreira: Baking vocals

Ana Paula Silva: Baking vocals

João Lourenço Morgado: Drums

A. Galvão: Organ

J. Augusto A. Gourgel: Percussion

José J. Junior: Rhythm Guitar

Artur Neves: Engineer

Sanguma - Papua Nuova Guinea (1984) 

We start our trip from the second biggest island in the world: Papua New Guinea! 

Papua New Guinea has more languages than any other country, with over 820 indigenous languages, representing 12% of the world's total, but most have fewer than 1,000 speakers. With an average of only 7,000 speakers per language, Papua New Guinea has a greater density of languages than any other nation on earth except Vanuatu. 

Sanguma band

It is estimated that more than one thousand cultural groups exist in Papua New Guinea. Because of this diversity, many styles of cultural expression have emerged. Each group has created its own expressive forms in art, dance, weaponry, costumes,  and of course music. This incredible richness is well represented by the Sanguma band.

Sanguma (ie, "black magic") is an ensemble formed at the National Art School of Port Moresby in 1977 and was among the first Papuan groups to perform abroad. Combining traditional instruments with western ones they give us a whirlwind mix between jazz-rock, local folk and progressive rock.

Their first omonimous album is from 1978, then they released Sanguma 2 in 79 and two live album in 1980.

This album called "Papua New Guinea" is from 1984, released in New Zealand, contains reinterpretation of songs previousle released.

Interesting links about Sangums:

https://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2011/12/tony-subam-and-legend-of-sanguma-band.html

http://yumistori.blogspot.com/2013/04/subam-sanguma-and-sounds-of-80s.html

TRACKLIST

A1 - Garden Song

A2 - Namilai

A3 - Sugu Kupma

A4 - Woma

B1 - Crystal Rapids

B2 - Welcome To The House

B3 - Sosi Sosi

Produced by Terence O'Neill-Joyce.

Group members: Leonard Talatus, lead guitar ; Raymond Hakena, drums ; Apa Saun, bass guitar ; Soru Tony Subam, saxophone, flute ; Tom Agai, trumpet, flugelhorn ; Paul Yabo, trumpet, syntehesiser, piano ; Sebastian Miyoni, vocals ; Buruka Tau, vocals, synthesiser, piano

Publisher: Auckland, N.Z. : Ode, p1984.